The Relationship between Endocannabinoids and Intolerance of Uncertainty in Adults Who Experienced a Traumatic Event
Mentor 1
Christine Larson
Start Date
28-4-2023 12:00 AM
Description
Background and Rationale: Intolerance of uncertainty is a measure of how tolerable an unpredictable event or situation is for a person. High levels of intolerance of uncertainty can be seen in people with anxiety and PTSD which are psychological disorders. An imbalance in neurotransmitters may lead to psychological disorders such as anxiety and PTSD. The neurotransmitter family endocannabinoids help to regulate the release of other neurotransmitters. The purpose of this study was to see if there is a correlation between high levels of intolerance of uncertainty and low levels of endocannabinoids. Methods: Participants were adults who experienced a traumatic event that required an emergency room visit. Data was collected six months post traumatic event. An eleven-question survey was used to collect intolerance of uncertainty data and blood serum was collected to determine the levels of the endocannabinoids AG and AEA. Results: There is no statistically significant correlation between intolerance of uncertainty and endocannabinoid levels. Conclusion: While endocannabinoids regulate many systems and functions within the body, intolerance of uncertainty is not one of them. We hypothesize that intolerance of uncertainty is a symptom of something larger, such as PTSD. Further research on the role of endocannabinoids within psychological disorders is needed to better understand their function and role in psychological symptoms such as intolerance of uncertainty.
The Relationship between Endocannabinoids and Intolerance of Uncertainty in Adults Who Experienced a Traumatic Event
Background and Rationale: Intolerance of uncertainty is a measure of how tolerable an unpredictable event or situation is for a person. High levels of intolerance of uncertainty can be seen in people with anxiety and PTSD which are psychological disorders. An imbalance in neurotransmitters may lead to psychological disorders such as anxiety and PTSD. The neurotransmitter family endocannabinoids help to regulate the release of other neurotransmitters. The purpose of this study was to see if there is a correlation between high levels of intolerance of uncertainty and low levels of endocannabinoids. Methods: Participants were adults who experienced a traumatic event that required an emergency room visit. Data was collected six months post traumatic event. An eleven-question survey was used to collect intolerance of uncertainty data and blood serum was collected to determine the levels of the endocannabinoids AG and AEA. Results: There is no statistically significant correlation between intolerance of uncertainty and endocannabinoid levels. Conclusion: While endocannabinoids regulate many systems and functions within the body, intolerance of uncertainty is not one of them. We hypothesize that intolerance of uncertainty is a symptom of something larger, such as PTSD. Further research on the role of endocannabinoids within psychological disorders is needed to better understand their function and role in psychological symptoms such as intolerance of uncertainty.
